2009 Press Releases

British Ambassador to Ireland visits UCC
16.11.2009

The new British Ambassador to Ireland, HE Julian King, delivered a robust defence of the European Union (EU) during a lecture in UCC today (November 16th 2009) hosted by the Department of Government and attended by staff and students.

In his lecture on "How the EU contributes to our wider security", the Ambassador outlined the multitude of economic, political and environmental challenges facing all European states today. He stressed that the EU is the single most effective means by which states can collectively address these complex challenges. A large and cohesive EU can also better respond to new and emerging threats in relation to economic, environmental and energy security, he suggested. Any retreat from Europe at this time would be ill-judged, according to the Ambassador, and would be damaging for the essential interests of both Ireland and Britain.

In a week during which the position of President of the European Council is to be decided, the Ambassador outlined British government support for former Prime Minister Tony Blair’s candidacy. The Ambassador outlined the need for Europe to have a strong leader capable of negotiating agreement between a diverse group of 27 member-states. Tony Blair’s experience and track-record, he suggested, provided him with the necessary skills and credentials to undertake such a demanding role. In response to a question from BSc Government student, Ian Mawe, the Ambassador dismissed Britain’s reputation as an ‘awkward EU partner’, and did not view it as being problematic with respect to Tony Blair’s candidacy. Euro-scepticism was common to many other EU states and was not simply a British phenomenon, he claimed

This was the new Ambassador’s third visit to Cork, but his first to UCC. He was accompanied by Ms Elizabeth Green, First Secretary (EU/Global Issues) and also met by UCC’s Deputy President/Senior Vice-President Academic, Professor Paul Giller and Head of the Department of Government, Professor Neil Collins.

Picture shows L-R: Ms Elizabeth Green, First Secretary (EU/Global Issues), HE Julian King, British Ambassador to Ireland, Professor Paul Giller, Deputy President/Senior Vice-President Academic, UCC and Professor Neil Collins, Head, Department of Government, UCC.

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